Biographies of African Americans

Biographies of African Americans
James Timothy "Tim" Brymn
by . Among the musicians from Kinston, North Carolina who have created legacies in the world of music, one of the earliest to be recognized was the jazz composer and band leader J. Tim Brymn. Born in [...] (from North Carolina Arts Council.)
James William Alston
by Peek, Matthew M. James William Alston 18 Jan. 1876-14 Dec. 1940 by Matthew M. Peek, State Archives of North Carolina, 2015 James William Alston served in the U.S. Army during both the Spanish-American War [...] (from NC Office of Archives and History.)
9th Wonder
by Eckard, Max. Patrick Denard Douthit, better known by his stage name, 9th Wonder (or, since 2010, 9thmatic), is a record producer and record executive from Winston Salem, NC. He is also a Grammy award-winning [...] (from NCpedia.)
Abraham Galloway
by Franck, Julie. Galloway, Abraham 8 Feb.1837 - 1 Sept.1870 by Julie Franck, North Carolina State University, 2013; Revised September 2022 Abraham Galloway was a formerly enslaved person, Union spy and [...] (from Government & Heritage Library, State Library of North Carolina.)
Adams-Ender, Clara
by Pollitt, Phoebe Ann. Originally published in "North Carolina Nursing History." Republished with permission. For personal educational use and not for further distribution. Please submit permission requests for other uses [...] (from Appalachian State University.)
Angelou, Maya
by Horton, Emily S. Maya Angelou was best known as a poet and the best-selling author of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1970). Angelou was also a singer, dancer, Grammy-winning composer, director, and actress. She was [...] (from NCpedia.)
Atkins, Simon Green
by Gainor, Samuel M. Atkins received his early schooling in Haywood. He was an astute student and progressed to teaching in the town school before he enrolled in St. Augustine's Normal Collegiate Institute, now St. [...] (from Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, University of North Carolina Press.)
Atwater, Ann George
by Carrier, Sarah. Ann George Atwater was a lifelong grassroots civil rights activist in Durham, North Carolina. She was born in Hallsboro, Columbus County on July 1, 1935. As a child, she attended the Farmers’ Union [...] (from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Libraries.)
Bailey, Neil Alexander
by Stewart, James. Neil Alexander Bailey* was the first African-American agricultural extension agent in the state of North Carolina. He was born in Harnett County, North Carolina, the son of Edward and Phillis McLean [...] (from NCSU Libraries.)
Baker, Ella
by Townes, Mitzi. Ella Baker was born on December 13, 1903 in Norfolk , Va. When Ella was eight years old her family moved to Littleton, North Carolina. In 1918, Ella Baker entered Shaw University, a Baptist boarding [...] (from NCpedia.)
Baker, Ella Josephine
by Agan, Kelly, Davis, Sarajanee. Baker, Ella Josephine Giving light so people can find the way By Sarajanee Davis, N.C. Government & Heritage Library, 2019; Kelly Agan, N.C. Government & Heritage Library, 2020. From [...] (from NCpedia K-8 Collection.)
Barrino, Fantasia
by Horton, Emily S. Fantasia Barrino June 30, 1984- by Emily Horton NC Government & Heritage Library, 2016. Related Entries: Clay Aiken; Kellie Pickler; Chris Daughtry; Bucky Covington; Scotty McCreery; [...] (from NCpedia.)
Bearden, Romare
by Wegner, Ansley Herring. Bearden, Romare by Ansley Wegner, Research Branch, NC Office of Archives and History, 2013   September 2, 1911 - March 12, 1988 Romare Bearden was born in Charlotte in 1911. [...] (from Research Branch, NC Office of Archives and History.)
Best, Andrew Arthur
by Hill, Steven. Best, Andrew Arthur (November 26, 1916-December 7, 2005) by Steven A. Hill, 2019 Published with permission. For personal educational use and not for further distribution.  Andrew [...] (from Government & Heritage Library, State Library of North Carolina.)
Bethea-Shields, Karen: In Joan Little's Cell
by Cecelski, David S. On the day she passed her bar exam in 1974, Karen Galloway, now Karen Bethea-Shields, was named co-counsel in the first-degree murder trial of Joan Little. It became one of the most controversial [...] (from Listening to History, News and Observer.)
Broadfoot, Carrie Early
by Pollitt, Phoebe Ann. Originally published in "North Carolina Nursing History." Republished with permission. For personal educational use and not for further distribution. Please submit permission requests for other uses [...] (from Appalachian State University.)
Brown, Calvin Scott
by Stephenson, E. Frank, Jr. Calvin Scott Brown, educator, editor, minister, and advisor, was born in Salisbury of black and Scot-Irish ancestry. His father was Henry Brown, a farmer, and his mother was Flora Brown. Brought up [...] (from Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, University of North Carolina Press.)
Brown, Charlotte Hawkins
by Burns, Augustus M., III. Brown, Charlotte Hawkins by A. M. Burns III, 1979; Revised November 2022. See also: Brown, Charlotte Hawkins, Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum, Palmer Memorial Institute, Charlotte Hawkins Brown [...] (from Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, University of North Carolina Press.)
Brown, Charlotte Hawkins
by Anonymous. CHARLOTTE HAWKINS BROWN See also: Brown, Charlotte Hawkins from the Dictionary of North Carolina Biography; Charlotte Hawkins Brown for K-8 Students This essay is adapted from [...] (from Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum.)
Browne, Rose Butler
by Hill, Michael. The name of Rose Butler Browne is venerated on the campus of North Carolina Central University (NCCU). Born in Boston in 1897, Browne was an influential educator, civil rights activist, and community [...] (from Research Branch, NC Office of Archives and History.)
Burke, Selma Hortense
by Agan, Kelly. Burke, Selma Hortense By Adapted by Kelly Agan, Government & Heritage Library, 2019, from the Blog, "This Day in North Carolina History" (December 31, 2016) 31 Dec. 1900 - [...] (from North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.)
Cannady, Mary: At Dr. King's House
by Cecelski, David S. Mary Cannady was 50 years old in 1965 when three civil rights activists were killed in Alabama. The deaths of Jimmie Lee Jackson, the Rev. James Reeb and Viola Liuzzo shocked the nation, including [...] (from Listening to History, News and Observer.)
Carter, Dorcas E.: The Great Fire Of '22
by Cecelski, David S. The great fire of 1922 burned 40 city blocks in New Bern and left thousands of people homeless. It was the most destructive fire in the state's history. Dorcas E. Carter, one of the few people who [...] (from Listening to History, News and Observer.)
Cartwright, Andrew
by Cross, Jerry L. Andrew J. Cartwright, minister and agent of the American Colonization Society, was born in Elizabeth City. Some contend that he was the son of enslaved parents and other believe that he was [...] (from Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, University of North Carolina Press.)
Chance, William Claudius, Sr.
by Caldwell, John T. William Claudius Chance, Sr., educator and humanitarian, was born in Parmele. His parents were W. V. and Alice Chance; his grandparents, who reared him, were Bryant and Penethia Chance; all were [...] (from Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, University of North Carolina Press.)
Viewing first 25 articles. See all 198.

See all entries on African Americans